VOLUNTEER BENEFITS by DOROTHY S. WILSON

?When I spoke to William Wang, the Director of Volunteer Services, at New York Downtown Hospital, he told me about the programs in which the Volunteer Office is involved. He said the hospital has close to a total of 450 volunteers. In the summer there are 120 youngsters on vacation from high school or college who comprise part of the total number. These kids come in every day during the summer. The remainder of the volunteers are mostly part time. Many of the staff look forward to having the kids during the summer as they take up some of the menial tasks like fetching sheets, feeding some of the patients, filing and computer work in the offices, answering phones, etc. Their work helps the staff catch up on their busy work. On Thursday, August 16, 2007, Mr. Wang held a Supervisor Recognition Ceremony in the hospital cafeteria. This is when some of the volunteers commend some of the supervisors for their exceptional mentoring skills. One of the volunteers, Yuan Yao, is an exchange student from Beijing going to school in the Boston area but a volunteer for the summer in New York at the hospital. She said that Mimi Vinceset a great example in that she exhibited a loving and caring attitude to the patients and took the time to show her (Yuan) how to care for the patients as well. Several others were also honored. After all the awards were presented Mr. Wang had an ice cream sundae party for the kids. A lot of the staff indulged too.. Mr. Wang also had a Volunteer Recognition Awards ceremony in the cafeteria at the end of July where supervisors nominated the youngsters who they felt were doing an exceptional job. After this ceremony there was an early buffet dinner to celebrate. He also runs a Health Fair and Walk to raise money for the hospital. Another activity he organizes and has the kids involved in is the annual Dragon Boat Races out in Flushing. And last but not least he takes the kids up to Bear Mountain for a day of picnicing and various sports activities.